Two more artists announced for #oye25

We are excited to announce that Dobet Gnahoré, and Bonga will join our festival alumni and return to Liverpool for an unforgettable weekend of music and culture.

The first of the two newly announced acts returning to Sefton Park this summer is Ivorian singer, dancer, musician and Grammy-winner, Dobet Gnahoré.

Dobet, who first played the Liverpool festival back in 2005, sings in a range of African languages and covers a whole host of styles, including Congolese Rumba, Ivory Coast Ziglibiti, Cameroon Bikoutsi and Ghanian High-Life.

Dobet Gnahore – Photo Credit: Mike Worthington

Joining her in this latest reveal is Angolan icon, Bonga, who played Oyé in 2011. One of the most successful artists in his country’s history, Bonga’s has been the soundtrack to Angola’s struggle for independence, its civil war and is now seen as ‘the voice of a modern, peaceful country’

On his latest album “Recados de Fora” (Messages from Elsewhere), Bonga – who just celebrated his 74th birthday – tells the tale of a fascinating journey across different times and continents. The singer-songwriter looks back over his youth, his increasing awareness of Portuguese colonization, how his father introduced him to music, and his love of the musical style of semba, the symbol of Angolan national identity.

Bonga

Dobet and Bonga join the already announced Dizzy Mandjeku & Odemba OK Allstars, Jupiter & Okwess International and Mokoomba, who will all be making their Liverpool returns for this special Oyé milestone.